This design is inspired by a tiny seal the size of a button. Made from
clay, it is inscribed with the Aramaic words "deka leyah", meaning "pure
for god". An extremely rare find dated to the Second Templeperiod, it
was likely used to mark products which were brought to the Temple and
required a seal of purity. A familiar example is the oil jug from the
Hanukkah story, which was sealed with the seal of the High Priest. The
seal represents the first archaeological testimony to the verse that
appears in the Jerusalem Talmud, Tractate Shekalim (Ch 5, pg 48)
"Whoever seeks libations, should go to Yohanan who is appointed over the
seals, and give him coins and receive a seal from him".
The seal was found during the sifting of archaeological rubble from the
Herodian Channel Excavation at the foot of the Western Wall.